Phonte Showcases His Multiple Talents On Foreign Exchange’s New Single (Audio)

UPDATE: Foreign Exchange pointed out to Ambrosia For Heads that previously unreleased song “Shelter” appeared on last year’s Seek&Destroy compilation, which F.E. curated.

ORIGINAL STORY: Phonte Coleman already blessed Hip-Hop fans with one of the more celebrated albums of 2018. No News Is Good News followed up 2011’s Charity Starts At Home with precise rhymes about real-life situations. According to the North Carolina veteran, time and mourning loved ones delayed an album that had been in the works for more than a year. However, as Foreign Exchange releases new music, Phonte is in stride.

Producer Nicolay and the singing-side of Phonte last left fans with 2015’s Tales From The Land Of Milk And Honey ensemble. The Grammy-nominated collective also curated a 2017 compilation called Hide&Seek. It features Bilal, DJ Spinna, Roots member Stro Elliot, and Zo!, among others. In the first days of the month, F.E. now releases “June.” Nikky uses busy percussion, and electronic accents as Tigallo serenades a partner after being struck by Cupid’s arrow. The song features some rapping at the top and then the expected singing from the golden-voiced multi-talent.

The wise song has powerful lyrics such as these sung lines: “Girl, I just can lie / I’m terrified / For the first time ever, I just want to get it right / I’ve been a coward in matters of the heart / But whether you’re near or far / I just gotta say, you are my song, where I belong, you’re lovin’ takes me to the moon.” “June” is something that will still sound great in July, August, and so forth.

While the bars are brief, they are potent. On early F.E. works such as 2004’s celebrated breakthrough Connected…, the lyrical half of the pair frequently rapped in addition to his melodies.